Shoe shining machine



N v. 13 1 56 s. s. FERNANDEZ ,769,

SHOE SHINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1952 3 S 1 Fig.

10 INVENTOR.

NOV. 1956 s. s. FERNANDEZ 69, 93

SHOE SHINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

Serafin 5. Fernandez INVENTOR.

Nov. 13, 1956 s. s. FERNANDEZ SHOE SHINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1952.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 g F g. 4

7 I /40 a /04- Q i 6 //6- Semfin 5. Fernandez INV EN TOR.

United States SHOE SHiNlN G MACHINE Serafin Fernandez, Las Vegas, Nev. Application December 4, 1952, Serial No. 323,981

3 Claims. CI. 15-97 This invention relates to polishing and shining machines, and more specifically to a machine for shining shoes.

At the present time, there are many handicapped persons in this country who lack an arm and are unable to find steady work. While many persons are daily emplo'yed'in shops to shine shoes, persons who are so handicapped cannot shine shoes in a normal manner. Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved shoe shining machine which may be operated by a person having only one hand so as to effectively shine shoes.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shoe shining machine which includes means for rigidly supporting a shoe, said shoe shining machine also including polishing cloths and brushes for frictionally engaging a shoe to polish the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shoe shining machine which is relatively compact and light in weight whereby the same may be easily transported and at the same time is formed of readily obtainable materials so as to be economically feasible.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved shoe shining machine which utilizes simple mechanical drive means for simultaneously oscillating rollers and reciprocating brushes to facilitate the'shining of shoes.

These together with other objects and advantages which willbecome subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the shoe shine machine which is the subject of this invention and shows a shoe in the process of being shined by polishing brushes there- Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the shoe shining machine of Figure 1, a front cover of the housing thereof being omitted in order to clearly show the relationship of the elements of the machine, portions of the elements being broken away and shown in section in order to clear- -ly illustrate the arrangement of drive means of the shoe shining machine;

Figure 3. is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line .3-3 of Figure 2 and shows the general arrangement and means for supporting polishing brushes for recipro catory movement;

Figure 4-is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 2 and shows the arrangement of drive means for reciprocating the polishing brushes;

Figure 5 is .a fragmentary horizontal sectional view :.taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section lineS-S of Figure 2 .meansfor converting rotary motion of a power unit to and shows the arrangement of drive an adjusted position on the a belt 50 will result Patented Nov. 13, 1956 oscillatory motion which is applied to a main drive shaft of the shoe shining machine; and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front plan view similar to Figure 2 and shows a shoe in the process of being simultaneously shined by a pair of polishing cloths, an alternate position of the shoe being illustrated in clotted lines.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the shoe shining machine which is the subject of this invention, includes a generally rectangular housing which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The housing-10 includes a bottom wall 12 which has extending upwardly from the ends thereofend walls 14 and 16. Also extending upwardly from the bottom wall 12 and in abutting engagement with the end walls 16 is a rear wall 18. Connected to the upper edgesof the end walls 14 and 16 and the rear wall 18 is a top wall 20 which is in spaced parallel relationto the bottom wall 12. The housing 10 also-includes a front wall which is not shown and may be omitted if desired. I

In order that thehousing 10 may be suitably reinforced, and at the same time to support drive means of the shoe shining machine, the same is provided with first and second transverse partition walls 22 and 24. The partition walls 22 and 24 extend vertically between the bottom wall 12 and the top wall 20 and are secured to said walls and to the rear wall 18.

Mounted on the bottom wall 12 between the partition walls 22 and 24 is an electric motor 26 which has mounted on the armature shaft end thereof a gear box 28. The gear box 28 has projecting from opposite ends thereof rotatable wheels 30 which are rotated in response to rotation of the armature shaft of the electric motor 26. It will be understood that rotation of the wheels 30 is due to the particular arrangement of the gears within the gear box 28, the arrangement not being a part of this invention. Extending vertically between the bottom Wall 12 and the top wall 20 is a vertical shaft 32. A

The vertical shaft 32 is positioned between the partition wall 24 and the end wall 16 and passes through the top wall 20. The vertical shaft 32 is rotatably journaled in an upper sleeve portion 34 and a lower mounting plate portion 36 of a generally C-shaped support 38. The support 38 extending vertically above the top Wall 20 and thus secured thereto-by the base 36. I

The vertical shaft 32 is also rotatably journaled in a vertical portion 40 of an L-shaped transfer case 42. The transfer case 42 is carried by the partition wall 24 and the end wall 16 and includes a horizontal portion 44.

The lower end of the vertical shaft 32 projects downwardly below the transfer case 42 and has mounted thereon a drive roller 46. The drive roller 46 is retained in lower portion of the vertical shaft 32 by a set screw .48. Secured to the drive roller 46 is an intermediate portion of a drive belt 50 which has reduced end portions 52 thereof secured to pitmans 54 carried by the rotatable wheels 30 adjacent the outer edges thereof.

it will be seen that when the wheels 30 are rotated in response to rotation of the armature shaft of the electric motor 26, the movement of the pitmans 54 carried by the wheels 30 will be'such as to cause reciprocation'of the drive belt 50, the pitr'nans 54 being diametricallyopposite each other. 'Reciprocatory' movement of the drive in oscillatory movement ,of the drive roller 46 and its associated vertical shaft understood that the drive belt 50 has spaced parallel portions thereof passing through spaced parallel vertical slots 56 in the partition wall 24.

'The shoeshining machine also includes a horizontal shaft 58 which has one end thereof rotatably journaled in the horizontal portion 44 of the transfer case 42. The other end of the horizontal shaft 58 is rotatably journaled 32. It will be 3 in a gear case 60 which is disposed between the end wall 14 and the partition wall 22. The gear case 60 is mounted in an elevated position on a support 62 carried by the bottom wall 12. l

Mounted on the vertical shaft 32 intermediate its ends is a first beveled gear 64 which is intermeshed with a second beveled gear 66. The beveled gear 66 is mounted on an associated end of the horizontal shaft 58 for imparting oscillatory motion to the horizontal shaft upon oscillatory movement of the vertical shaft 32.

Mounted within the housing 16 anddisposed between the partition walls 22 and 24 is a horizontally disposed tubular member'68 which has a flange 70'at one end thereof, the flange 70 being rigidlysecured to the inner face of the partition wall 24. Also horizontally disposed and having one end thereof positioned in thefree end of the sleeve 68 is a reciprocating shaft 72. The reciprocat ing shaft 72 has an intermediate portion rotatably journaled in a borethrough a thickened flange 74 of a mounting bracket 76, the mounting bracket 76 being secured to an inner face of the partition wall 22 adjacent the upper end thereof. The reciprocating shaft 72 passes through the partition wall 22 and has an end portion thereof rigidly secured to a vertically disposed transverse plate 78. The end of the reciprocating shaft 72 disposed within the sleeve 68 includes a vertically disposed pin 80 which is positioned in an elongated slot 82 in the free end portion of the sleeve 68.

It will be noted that the outer face of the plate 78 includes an internally threaded boss 84 which has adjustably positioned therein a threaded shank of a headed member 86. The headed member 86 is in alignment with oscillating arm 88 which periodically strikes the headed member 86 to urge the same to the right as viewed in Figures 2 and 4. The oscillating arm 88 is disposed in a horizontal plane and secured to a vertical shaft 99 carried by the gear case 60. A vertical shaft 90 has secured to the lower end thereof a beveled gear 92 which is intermeshed with a beveled gear 94 carried by the other end of the horizontal shaft 58. 7

It will be seen that oscillation of the horizontal shaft will result in oscillationof the oscillating arm 88. The striking of the headed member 86 by the oscillating arm will result in the movement of the reciprocating shaft 72 to the right. In order that the reciprocating shaft and I its attached plate 78 may be moved back to their normal positions, there is mounted on the free end portion of the sleeve 68 a coil spring 96. The coil spring 96 has one end thereof abutting the pin 8% and the other end thereof abutting a pin 98 carried by the sleeve 68. When the reciprocating shaft 72 moves to the right, as is viewed in Figure 4, the pin 80 urges the associated end of the coil spring 96 to the right with the result that the coil spring is compressed. The coil spring 96 then urges the pin 80 and its associated reciprocating shaft '72 back. i

to the left to their normal position.

Hingedly connected to the upper surface of the top eating shaft 72, are journaled in bores in the thickened v wall 20 adjacent the end wall 14 by a hinge 195) is a mounting bracket 102. Themounting bracket 102 has removably secured therein a base portion of a shoe supporting clamp 104. The shoe supporting clamp includes afpair of oppositely directed clamping legs 106 and 163 which are adapted to engage within a shoe 110 for retaining the same in a horizontal position, as best illustrated in Figure 2. The mounting bracket 192 is retained in a vertical position by a vertically disposed rack 11' whose lower end is restrained against movement away "from the end wall 14by a strap 114. The vertical rack 112 passes through. the mounting bracket 162 and is temporarily secured thereto by an internally threaded tubular member 116 which is disposed over a reduced' portion of the mounting bracket 102 and theupper end portion of the vertical rack112. The rack 112 may also be clamped within the mounting bracket 102 by a 4 fastener 118 passing transversely through the mounting bracket.

In order that the side of the shoe may be conveniently brushed by automatic brush means, there is disposed on opposite sides of the shoe 110, polishing brushes 120. The polishing brushes 120 are identical and have projecting downwardly from their lower edges, support rods 124 which pass through elongated slots 122 in the top wall. 20. The lower ends of the support rods 124 terminate in horizontal sleeves 126 which are adjustably secured to horizontal shaft 128 by a locking screw 130.

As is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the shafts128 are disposed on opposite sides of the reciprocating shaft 72 and have ends thereof secured to the plate 78 for reciprocating movement with the reciprocating shaft 72. Intermediate portions of the shaft 128, like the reciproflange 74 of the mounting bracket 76.: When the osci llating arm 88 is oscillated in responseto rotation of the armature shaft of the electric motor 26, it will be'seeri that the polishing brushes 120 will be reciprocatedin a horizontal plane for shining the sides of the shoe 110. Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that when the shoe 110 is disposed in a horizontal posi tion, as is illustrated in Figure 2,the same may alsobe polished by suitable polishing cloths. The polishing cloths include a vertical polishing cloth 131 which engages over the toe of the shoe 110 and passes downwardly through the longitudinal slots 122 and the top wall 20'. The vertical polishing cloth 131 passes downwardly between the shafts 128 and has a lower portion of the same secured to a horizontal roller 132. The horizontal roller 132'is mounted on the horizontal shaft 58"and ad justably secured thereto by a lock screw 134. It willbe noted that the horizontal shaft 58 also passes through the partition wall 22 and, if desired, may be partially supported by a journal 136 secured therein. 1 The vertical polishing cloth 131 may be secured to the horizontal roller 132 in any desired manner. However, it is found that the polishing cloth 131 maybe removably secured to the horizontal roller 132 by pro; viding the roller with cloth belting138 to which the polishing cloth 131 may be secured by conventional pins 131 i v V I Mounted on the upper portion of the yejrticalshaftv 32 between the ends of the support 38. is ayertical roller 140. The vertical roller 140 has secured thereto an intermediate portion of a generally horizontalcloth 142 which passes around the back of the shoe 110 and engages the back and the sides of the same to effect the polishingthat illustrated in dotted lines is the mounting bracket 102 which has been pivoted'to a substantially horizontal position overlying the top wall 20. I When the mounting bracket 102 is in a generally horizontal position, the relationship of the shoe clamping device 104 therewith is reversed and the. oppositely curved clamping elements v 106 and 168 thereof are now disposed ina horizontal plane. Also, the shoe 110 has now been rotatedto' a vertical position. Whenthe shoe 110 is in a-vertical po sition, the toe of the same may be conveniently shined by the generally horizontal polishing cloth 142 in the mannerjllustrated' in dotted lines;

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the'shoe shining machine, which is the subject of this invention, is soconstructed and ,designedthat shoes may be properly mountedtherein by persons haying only one. hand.

After the shoes have been properly positioned therein, either the polishing brushes or the polishing cloths may be properly associated with the shoe to be shined and then the actual shining operation is done by the drive means of the shoe shining machine upon actuation of the electric motor 26. Inasmuch as the person shining the shoes does not have to actuate the polishing brushes and cloths, it will be seen that the shining process will not be tedious. Also, a number of such machines may be operated simultaneously by a single operator.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shoe shining machine comprising first and second rollers having longitudinal axes, drive means simultaneously oscillating said rollers through limited angles about said axes, means .carried by said rollers in circumferentially spaced relation for attaching polishing cloths to said rollers, polishing cloths 'having opposite ends connected to said rollers by said last mentioned means, said drive means including a power unit, pitmans driven by said power unit, a drive belt having oppoiste ends connected to said pitmans, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted and reciprocated by said drive belt, said first roller being mounted on the upper end of said vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft driven by said vertical shaft, said second roller being mounted on said horizontal shaft.

2. A shoe shining machine comprising first and second rollers having longitudinal axes, drive means simultaneously oscillating said rollers through limited angles about said axes, means carried by said rollers in circumferentially spaced relation for attaching polishing cloths to said rollers, polishing cloths having opposite ends connected to said rollers by said last mentioned means, said drive means including a power unit, pitmans driven by said power unit, a drive belt having opposite ends connected to said pitmans, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted and reciprorcated by said drive belt, said first roller being mounted on the upper end of said vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft driven by said vertical shaft, said second roller being mounted on said horizontal shaft, a housing, said drive means being carried by said housing, said vertical shaft extending vertically through said housing, said first roller being positioned externally of said housing, said second roller being disposed Within said housing.

3. A shoe shining machine comprising first and second rollers having longitudinal axes disposed normal to each other, drive means simultaneously oscillating said rollers through limited angles about said axes, means carried by said rollers in circumferentially spaced relation for atta-ching polishing cloths to said rollers, polishing cloths having opposite ends connected to said rollers by said last mentioned means, said polishing cloths being disposed at substantially right angles to each other and in partial overlapping relation to form a T arrangement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

